Get your popcorn ready - its football season | RanchoLife

Get your popcorn ready - its football season

09:50 AM PDT on Monday, September 15, 2008

Do you know what T.O., T.D. and DB have in Common? Why it’s the Dallas Cowboys FanZ Club, of course. There was a sea of Romo, Witten and Barber jerseys that couldn’t be missed, and no shortage of excitement in Dave & Buster’s at the Ontario Mill Mall when the Dallas Cowboys FanZ Club opened their 2008 NFL season. More than 200 FanZ Club members were in attendance to watch the Cowboys defeat the Cleveland Browns 28-10 and start the season 1-0. “They are all excited. It’s finally here; it’s game day! It’s been a long summer, and just like everyone else I’m so ready to get back into football mode,” said Don Burr, the FanZ Club president. Eager club members lined the halls of Dave & Buster’s an hour before game time just waiting for the showroom to open. Smiles of eager anticipation were evident on the faces of the FanZ Club members as they entered the decorated showroom theatre. A large nine-foot inflatable Dallas Cowboys lineman stands outside the door next to the large DallasCowboysFanZ.com banner, letting opposing fans know this isn’t going be their cheering section. As guests walked in the door, a large five-foot Dallas Cowboys helmet sat to the right while the membership table folks on the left were busy handing out the 2008 season membership cards. On the walls were life-size photo banners of Tony Romo, Roy Williams and Marion Barber while the stage area displayed a table filled with autographed cards, decals, t-shirts and other novelties the club gave out during the game to the fans in attendance. “Wow,” seemed to be the word of the day as the members entered the theater for the first time to see their new venue.

CowboysFanZ Club members enjoy the game day party at Dave & Buster's in Ontario Mills.

Dallas CowboysFanZ Club members enjoy game day in a private, reserved room at Dave & Buster's.

Young CowboysFanZ Club members pose with the club's Hummer.

The Dallas Cowboys looked great on Sunday and seemed to pick up right where they left off last season, well, during the regular season anyway! Romo and the Cowboys ended last season with a devastating end-zone interception in the final seconds of the NFC Championship game that sealed their fate, and loss to the NY Giants. The Giants subsequently went on to defeat the New England Patriots and win Super Bowl XXLII. The Cowboys quickly quieted Cleveland's sellout crowd of just over 73,000 by dominating every facet of the game. Tony Romo went 24 of 32 for 320 yards while the Cowboys offense racked up 487 total yards in offense. The Dallas offense nearly doubled Cleveland’s total time of possession, and the only sack of the game was had by the Cowboys’ DeMarcus Ware which forced a fumble and subsequent Cowboys recovery. Cowboys Running Back and first round draft choice Felix Jones scored a touchdown on his first ever NFL carry relieving Marrion Barber, who left the game with bruised ribs. Cowboy fans did show some concern however when Tony Romo took a helmet to the chin from a Cleveland defender. Romo managed to complete the series despite the blood running down his chin. After the series, Romo received a quick tape and bandage job on the sideline from a team doctor and continued the game as if nothing had even happed. It was only after the game that the fanZ found out it took 13 stitches to close the huge gash in the quarterbacks’ chin. Cowboys running back and first round draft choice Felix Jones scored a touchdown on his first ever NFL carry relieving Marion Barber who left the game early with bruised ribs. Romo and Barbers injuries were not severe, and both are expected to play this coming week’s game. The Cowboys’ next two games, both evening games, are against hard-hitting NFC rivals. On Monday night, Sept. 15, they face the Philadelphia Eagles, who defeated Dallas in their last meeting, splitting last year’s series at one game apiece. Six days later, on Sunday night, Sept. 21, the Cowboys travel to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers. Dallas is 0-5 at Lambeau Field, having only beaten the Packers on their home field at County Stadium in Milwaukee where the Packers played some home games until 1994. This is the first time the two teams will face off this early in the season, and September’s is not likely to bring the harsh frozen conditions that have plagued the Cowboys in their prior meetings. The Dallas Cowboys FanZ Clubs, “Tried, True & Bleeding Blue” is free to join, and they welcome and encourage family participation in the club. To be a part of this great group click here, or just come to any Cowboys game at Dave & Buster’s in the Ontario Mills Mall and tell them you read about them here on Rancho Life.

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